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Revolutija in Bologna

A day in Bologna to see masterpieces never before exhibited outside of the Russian State Museum of St Petersburg on the centenary of the Russian revolution . Entitled ‘Revolutija‘ – it relates those tumultuous days through the eyes of famous artists such as Kandinsky, Malevich, Chagall, and stars of the avant-garde….displaying the extraordinary modernity of the cultural movements of Russia at that time from Primitivism to Cubo-Futurism up to Suprematism, Expressionism and pure abstract art’ Wow!

‘What Vastness’

’17 Oct 1905′ by Il’Ja Repin

We were just in time as the exhibition closed on the weekend, and was definitely not to be missed! Information boards recounted Russian history and important events leading up to the Revolutions of 1905 and 1917 and photographs, old film footage highlighted the harsh reality of the period. It was rich with atmosphere and drama, strengths and fragilities, joy and sadness. An overwhelming mix of superb works of art.

‘Portrait of Poetress Anna Achmatova’ by Natan Al’Than 1915

‘Dinner’ by Aleksandr Drevin 1915

Such a plethora of information on the audio guide that I needed to circle the exhibition more than once to have time and head space to just savour the artworks and let them do their own talking as well as watch the old film screening. Political and social unrest with workers striking about their dismal conditions, peasants protesting about their miserable earnings, student unrest, and reactions against the Tsar and the repressive measures that occurred during demonstrations often ending in massacres. Disturbing and turbulent times indeed.

Two peasant girls by Filipp Maljavin 1910

‘ Village’ by Boris Grigor’ev 1918

I instantly fell in love with Malevich, a new artist discovery for me, as I could not take my eyes of his beautiful symbolic geometric representations, intriguing secrets hidden in the abstractness, evoking compassion, making statements, strong and bold. But then I am passionate about futurist painters which Malevich was initially a part and later became the father of ‘Suprematism – the belief that Suprematist art would be superior to all art of the past, and that it would lead to the supremacy of pure feeling or perception in the pictorial arts…. a search for the ‘zero degree’ of painting, the point beyond which the medium could not go without ceasing to be art.’ His famous paintings of bold black squares, circles or crosses on white became the symbol of his ‘zero degree’ art.

‘Portrait of artist Ivan Kljun’ Malevich 1913

‘Complex Feelings’ Malevich 1932

‘Girls in the fields’ 1928 by Kazimir Malevich

Black Circle, Square, Cross by Malevich 1923

From strong and bold to the delicate and rather joyful depiction of Chagall in a self portrait with his wife Bella, and ‘the colourful even fun ‘On White’ by Wassily Kandinsky.

The exhibition ends with a celebration of the International Communist Party congress in 1920 alongside various artists work on the industrial period of the late 1920’s rendering tribute to the workers, ‘the heroes’, in the factories.

‘Textile Department’ by Aleksandr Samochvalov 1929

‘Celebration of International Communist Congress 19 July 1920’ by Boris Kustodiev

So much to take in and complemented by a comprehensive catalogue, that I could not resist, containing even more photos of the period and historic details of the harsh conditions and the creativeness of local artists, not always in line with the political regimes. So if I never get to Russia at least I have seen some of the splendid treasures they house at their State Museum.

Of course after feeding the intellect it was time to feed the stomach….and Bologna‘s famous tortellini spilled out of every corner alongside chunks of well matured Parmesan cheese. Tempting delicacies for everyone’s taste buds.

2 thoughts on “Revolutija in Bologna”

So interesting. I’ve never heard of Malevich either. Some of his work looks cubist in style and is a little reminiscent of Picasso’s cubist period. P’raps it’s just greater familiarity but I do love Kandinsky and Chagall